According to Statistics Canada, the total value of building permits in Canada decreased 3.6% to $6.1 billion in November, following an 11.6% increase in October. However, B.C. recorded the largest increase as a result of gains in the residential, institutional and commercial sectors.
A decline in the non-residential sector in Canada more than offset gains in the value of residential permits. Contractors took out $2.2 billion worth of permits in the non-residential sector in November, down 17.6%, following a 31.9% increase the previous month.
In Canada’s residential sector, permit values rose 6.9% to $3.9 billion following three consecutive monthly declines. The increase was attributable to higher construction intentions in eight provinces, led by B.C.
The value of Canada’s institutional permits declined 34.1% to $692 million, following an increase of 179% in October.
Ontario posted the largest drop. It resulted from lower construction intentions, particularly for medical facilities and government buildings, which had recorded significant gains the previous month.
Canadian municipalities issued industrial permits worth $439 million, down 12.3% from October. This drop followed three consecutive monthly rises.
Commercial building intentions in Canada declined for a second consecutive month, falling 5.1% to $1.1 billion.
The value of building permits for single-family dwellings rose 8.2% to $2.4 billion, after posting slight changes during the three previous months.
After three consecutive monthly declines, multi-family dwelling permits increased 5.0% to $1.5 billion. Gains in five provinces were behind the increase, with British Columbia posting the largest advance.
The total value of permits rose in 18 of the 34 census metropolitan areas.
Vancouver, Ottawa and Quebec posted the largest increases.
In Vancouver, construction intentions for multi-family dwellings and institutional buildings accounted for most of the advance.
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV